Sunderland will go some way to bucking an unwanted trend this weekend if they can beat Newcastle in the first Tyne-Wear Premier League derby in nine years.
Amid the excitement of the return of top-flight tussles between the old enemies, a win for the Black Cats would guarantee them a better points tally than any of the three promoted teams accrued last season - in less than half the time.
Regis Le Bris' side are already the best-performing newly promoted team since Phil Brown's Hull in 2008. In an era of rising fears about a growing chasm between the Premier League and the Championship, how have they bucked the trend, just three years after they were playing League One football?
"We will not play like (Pep) Guardiola or (Roberto) De Zerbi, because we are Sunderland and I am Regis Le Bris," was an early quote from the head coach they appointed barely 18 months ago, which would endear the Frenchman to the North East from the off. It has gone on to prove much more than just a soundbite.
Even in the Championship his priority was pragmatism and simplicity as Sunderland scored only seven more goals than relegated Plymouth last season en route to play-off promotion, with the priority a settled style and starting line-up.
Sunderland's preparation and performances since that final whistle at Wembley have seen them hit new levels, with the club looking back at the previous failures of others and vowing to avoid the same mistakes.
Recently, promoted sides have struggled with the physicality and intensity of the Premier League. A glance at the underlying numbers, especially the expected goals tables, suggests Sunderland should be struggling.
But dig a little deeper and there are clear markers to determine exactly why Sunderland are 10 points clear of the drop zone and one ahead of their arch rivals going into Sunday's derby, live on Your Site.
The Black Cats have created the lowest expected goals tally in open play of any side in the Premier League - worse even than Wolves, who have scored eight goals all season. If that metric had been reflected in results, Sunderland would still not have won a single game.
But what the xG tables are less able to interpret is efficiency, a team making the most of its strengths. It is something Sunderland have identified and addressed.
As a promoted side, that means doing so largely without having the ball, and instead prioritising solidity and energy. And who has run the furthest in the Premier League this season? Their 33-year-old summer signing Granit Xhaka. Noah Sadiki, another arrival from Belgian champions Union SG, is third on the list.
Sunderland have been particularly bold in attacking the transfer market, spending more than any newly promoted side in Premier League history in one transfer window, on 13 senior arrivals.
Such a recruitment strategy comes with the obvious risk that forging chemistry and blend might prove difficult, and there is no guarantee, either, that new arrivals will hit the ground running individually. But there has been a particularly strong hit rate, with nine of those signings featuring in 10 or more league matches.
"The club knew exactly what they are buying, who they are buying, who is fitting in this team," Xhaka told Your Site ahead of Sunday's game. "You need it to be like a puzzle from the first player to the last player, and the staff too."
One piece of the jigsaw fit to play every minute of every game this season has been goalkeeper Robin Roefs. Plucked from Eredivisie minnows NEC Breda, he has adapted to English football immediately with the second-best save percentage in the league, and has the fifth-best overperformance of xG faced.
More widely, the entire spine of the team has been improved. Le Bris and then recruitment chief Stuart Harvey looked to recruit solid, physical defensive additions who were good on the ball.
Enter two 6ft 2ins centre-backs in Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete. Little surprise then that the Black Cats have won the fifth-most aerial duels across the league. Then add in the Deadline Day arrival of Lutsharel Geertruida, who has completed the fifth-highest percentage of passes under pressure of any defender across the division.
There have been knock-on improvements elsewhere, which were potentially also well foreseen. Sunderland have historically struggled at set-pieces, but that physical edge has made a significant change going forward. Eight goals this season ranks them level with Aston Villa, Brentford and Brighton, and no side in the league has created a higher proportion of their expected goal tally from set-plays.
The numbers still do not feel sustainable, but given the savvy manner in which Sunderland have prioritised aspects of their game over others, the reality is certainly not as bleak as headlines suggesting they should be second bottom of the Premier League.
What may prove more problematic is the upcoming month-long AFCON, which will hit them harder than any of their rivals. Seven players, including the influential Sadiki and left-back Reinildo, are set to join up with their countries after the derby and may miss six league matches.
Just to rub salt into the wound, Sunderland face the third-hardest run of fixtures during their absence.
But that's next week's problem. For now, there's a derby to win. And if they do, you can bet it'll be efficiently done.
Watch Sunderland vs Newcastle from 1pm on Sunday on Your Site Main Event, kick-off 2pm.
